Leaf Peeping Season has already begun!

Hi everyone,

As I was driving along the border in Vermont today, I noticed that some leafy trees have already started to turn orange and yellow!! Yikes. I knew we had a cold and rainy summer this year, but I didn't think it was that bad. Also, I heard on the news that more than half of the apple orchards are already in operation in Quebec. I guess I better start making pies. Sheesh. I only had the opportunity to swim twice this season, I haven't even camped and now I have to prepare for the cold season already...:(

Here is the 2007 Thread for Fall Foilage Reports
Alice Zyetz's sugggestions
RTA's List of Leaf Peeping Resources
More suggestions for Fall Road Trips
2006 Fall Foilage Reports
2005 Fall Foilage posts
2004 Leaf Peeping Reports

I think my favorite places to view fall color are the side canyons off I-70 in western Colorado or the edge of the high meadows in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Mark

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

I think my favorite places to view fall color are the side canyons off I-70 in western Colorado or the edge of the high meadows in the Sierra Nevada mountains.Mark

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Indeed that must be an impressive sight with all the cliffs and colors. Unfortunately, it's just a little too far off for me:oP

The weather cues continue to confound trees around the land -- some trees are already in full autumnal splendor --

Even though we, up here on Washington state's coast, have been experiencing fall weather already, our trees aren't yet turning. At least not those in my area. Although I expect it will happen sooner than usual as weather has been far cooler than the norm and we have also had far more rain than we usually do this time of year.

I think we had 5 days in a row of summer. Grrrrr........

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I think we had 5 days in a row of summer. Grrrrr........

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I can relate to that...Summer has just started last week here!! We had the highest temperature of the summer just a few days ago (it was about time) so I finally got to wear my bathing suit instead of my raincoat and long-sleeved shirt! Hope it'll stay that way for a while because otherwise, the fall depression syndrom will hit hard this year.:(

I haven't seen any color changes yet, but I would expect to start seeing it very soon. After reaching 90 degrees for the first time all year on Labor Day, we're having a nice cool (and rainy, thanks gustav) week with daytime temps only in the 60s. That should kick start the color changing quite nicely.

Michael, I am a little bit farther north of you in Wisconsin and there are several trees on my daily commute that have begun to drop their green color in favor of some reds and yellows.

The apple trees started to drop their fruit about two weeks ago, again that seems early to me too, but I suppose it is right on schedule all things considered.

My cat has begun her fall ritual of fattening up for the long winter ahead. That is never a good sign when she starts bulking up this early, LOL!

I havent had to break out the ice scraper yet, but it was chilly enough last week that the wipers were pushing around some pretty heavy dew on the old windshield. I have to say, I wasnt liking that at all.

i am curious if anyone has recent reports on leaves changing in yellowstone, grand teton, or zion national park.

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Originally Posted by judith

i am curious if anyone has recent reports on leaves changing in yellowstone, grand teton, or zion national park.

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We maintain an active list of the best reporting sites for fall foilage reports in the USA. I would start here. Because of drought conditions, I would think you will begin to see the color change starting this week in those areas -- but we will see what other members are reporting.

Mark

I started to notice some changes about a month ago, in small patches on the trees that have shown to be "early adopters" over the past several years. This includes the neighbors maple and trees lining the river. Nothing significant, outside of that, however. I know that I am going to enjoy the view from my new job since I am on the 4th floor and can see many hardwoods for miles from there.

Not surprising that there is no change in Louisiana. But I will definitely agree on the strange weather. It's been a fairly cool summer here. We only had two weeks in July that were really hot, but we've mostly been in the mid to low 90s. We even had a stretch of 70s and 80s thanks to Gustav. We'll have to see what Ike brings.